One More Day

Love Coin Purse

Tomorrow is D-Day!  I've been waiting (and wishing for) this day for a long time, but, if I'm honest, I'm actually a bit nervous.  Why?  I'm not really sure.  I've been keeping myself busy the last few days for a few reasons...I want things organized when I get home from the hospital and I'm keeping my mind from wondering off to the "what ifs" of my knee surgery.  I've completed several sewing projects, including a couple of coin purses. 

I made this little bag for a friend's daughter, Nina. She is a huge Big Time Rush fan.  In case you were wondering, BTR is a boy band from Nickelodeon Channel.  I made the BTR coin purse using an iron on patch I purchased.  I then hand stamped "Nina" using my alphabet stamps and fabric ink.  I listed my "Love" coin purse Monday afternoon in my Etsy Shop and it sold within about thirty minutes! Very exciting!

I've also completed a "secret project" for the Bloggerette Sorority Sisters Halloween Swap.  I can't show you what I made, however because it is SECRET until after all the projects are mailed and received.  Then participants will write and post photos of their projects.  They will also reveal their partners at that time.  So stay tuned!  All the projects are due on October 11.  You can click on the link to the Bloggerette page and you'll find a list of the participants as well as more information about the swap, etc.

Okay, don't laugh.  I made a couple of walker totes!  My doctor said I'll be sporting a walker for three or four weeks, so I figured why not make a caddy in order to carry some magazines, hand sewing, knitting, etc.!  I used Simplicity 2822.  The pattern was surprisingly easy.  It was much like just making a regular tote bag.  In the photos, I've attached the bags to the back of one of my chairs as I don't have my walker...yet!  

Lots to do!  Tootles for now!  

For the Love of Fabric & Friends

Have I mentioned how much I love Etsuko Fuyura fabric?  Yes, a million times!  I'll make it one million and one...I love Etsuko Fuyura fabric!  You might remember that I used it to make a a purse for my daughter a few months ago.  This past weekend, a dear friend sent me a little box of goodies, which included an Echino Ni-Co 2011 by Etsuko Furuya Natural fat quarter bundle!  Heaven!  I chose the first FQ to make myself a pair of slippers.  I think they are beyond awesome!

I used Simplicity 2278 for my slippers.  I stayed true to the pattern, however I chose not to use Jiffy Grip for the bottoms.  Instead, I used a suede-like fabric.  My feet will be toasty and look good during my hospital stay next week!  Who said you can't look hip and trendy when you are getting a new knee?  (Would have been funnier if I was getting a new hip instead of a knee!)  Thanks again to my friend for my treasure box.  You know who you are and just how great you are!

I completed a few more bags and added them to my Etsy Shop.  The image transfers turned out great.  The first bag is coin purse size.  Doesn't Nixon look cool?  The other two are flat bottom cosmetic bags.  Who doesn't love bras and shoes?

Thanks for the great feedback about my iPad Curse!  Writing up a tutorial for one is on my list of things to get done before next week.  So, stay tuned!

Tootles for now!

Wonderisms Wednesdays

Happy Humpday; otherwise known as Wednesday.  In my blog travels, I've notice Bloggers celebrate, for lack of a better word, Wednesdays as "Wordless," WOYW (What's On Your Workdesk)," "Outdoor Wednesday," and more.  These are all great and I've read and commented on many.  I think having a day dedicated to something, maybe even unrelated to your specific blog is kind of cool.  And, frankley, it is sometimes hard to think of something specific to sewing to write about every other day.  I've also bored myself, so, with this all in mind, I introduce (drumroll):  Wonderisms Wednesday! 

I've actually been trying to come up with something for sometime now.  I've wondered about doing a "Wayback Wednesdays," a "Wal-Mart Wednesdays," "Whycome Wednesdays," (I know several people who actually think whycome is a real word),  and even a "WTF Wednesday," but thought better about that one.  So, since I wondered about these and I find myself wondering about a lot of things lately, I decided to go with Wonderisms.  Sound fun?  Play along if you'd like...I'll  make the above picture grab-able before next Wednesday.  I have wondered about three particular things today.  I wonder:

1.  How is it that I can tangle myself up in invisible spider webs when I'm not anywhere near anything the webs could be attached to? 

2.  Why Hootie can't go back to the Blowfishes.  I can't dig the country music.  Is blowfishes a word?

3.  Do I really look like this?  My daughter's drawing of me.  Actually, I'm in awe (or wonder) of kids...especially my littlest daughter.  She gives me presents like this everyday.  It's great isn't it?

As I mentioned, Wednesdays are commonly referred to as "Humpday," or the middle of the week.  Well, Tuesday is really my Humpday.  That means tomorrow, Thursday, is my Friday.  Follow?    I've got a few projects I need to finish this weekend...first, my Discovering Myself Journal.  I've got to answer:  "I am beautiful"  and "My Quirks."  I'm a little stumped on the first.  Bonnie says to answer honestly..."what are your best physical attributes?"..I'll probably go with My Hair, although I am convinced it is a magnet for the aformentioned spider webs.  Maybe it has something to do with the amount of hair product I use???  Anyway, two pages to go and I'll be Discovered!

As for sewing this weekend, I plan to work on my Hepburn coat.  I have managed to cut out the pieces for my Hepburn coat.  The pattern is from Simplicity and there are only 5 pieces.  The big thing I've noticed about the vintage pattern is that the tissue seems a bit heavier weight than pattern tissue nowadays.  This pattern states it is "Simple," but I'll be the judge!  I'll keep you posted!

One more thing to look for this coming weekend:  The October Blissfull ATC Swap cards will begin to appear on the participants' blogs.  I finished mine and sent it to my swap partner, Leila from Artsy Creations By Leila.  Leila is a terrific artist and I am super excited to recieve the card she has made!  She is actually having a giveaway for a pendant she made, so pop over to her blog and check it out! Just a reminder, the theme for October is "Dark."  Be prepared for some creepy cards, I'm sure!  Until next time, toodles!

Sew Easy A Caveman (woman) Can Do It?

You know what's weird?  It is supposedly a "short" week due to the holiday Monday, but it sure hasn't seemed like a short week for me!  Of course, I worked on Monday, so it technically hasn't been a short work week, but still...I'm rambling aren't I?  Okay, did you notice my header?  I've been messing about with my Photoshop in my spare time and have come up with a few new header designs.  I'll be showing my different designs and asking for input and feedback from you all as to which you like the most.  For a few of my new headers, including tonight's example,  I have used "clusters" I downloaded from Raspberry Road Designs.  They design digital scrapbooking "stuff."  And, even though I really have no idea what is what in the digital scrapbooking world, I think their designs are awesome.  This particular cluster was a "freebie."  What do you think?  Oh, and check out my new Button!  You like??  Go ahead...GRAB IT!

Besides pulling my hair out trying to figure out Photoshop, I have finished a few sewing projects, including this rice bag:

This is actually two square pouches.  The inner pouch is filled with long grain rice, which I sprinkled with a touch of clove oil.  I sewed this inner pouch closed.  The outer pouch covers the inner one and it has a zipper closure.  The zipper is actually hidden under the fold of the pouch.  I've asked a few of the ladies who work in my office to be my guinea pigs, or rather market testers with these pouches.  These ladies type like nobody's business.  Some  are just a few keystrokes away from wearing those white  wrist support thingies for "carpal tunnel syndrome."  I'm thinking (hoping) my sewn little pouches may make their wrists feel better after a long day.  Fingers crossed!  (Can you still cross with carpal??)

I've also been looking at different fabrics online.  I'm trying to decide what I will use for my first Hepburn Hepburn Project.  I think I'm going to start with the coat.  I've decided on Simplicity 5301, the "easy" one.  I'm actually stumped on a picking a fabric.  Usually that's the easy part for me!

 Yes, I've also been working on my September Blissfull ATC Swap card and my ATC container for the contest.  The card is due on the 15th and the container on the 20th.  I'm super excited to get to see everyone's projects!

Oh, I managed to slip into the beauty shop on Sunday...I can't tell you how desparate I had become.  I'll just say this:  the Cro-magnen look is not a good one for me!  (I'm talking eyebrows here!)

Toodles for now!